Breaking Through Barriers: How Perseverance Drives Digital Transformation
Life has a way of throwing a lot at us; it’s how we deal with these problems that truly define who we are.
If your life is anything like mine, you are faced with an endless barrage of problems from all different directions: family, work, physical and mental health, and the day-to-day obstacles like traffic or a broken faucet. All these problems, no matter how insignificant at the time, can add to the strain.
Over time, many of these problems become easier to manage because we develop systems and processes for addressing them. We know how to handle certain situations either because we have faced them before, or we have a process for addressing them.
Now that my son and daughter are getting older, I am tasked with showing them how they can grow problem-solving in their own lives. Most of their problems are small: such as learning how to clean up after themselves and not leave a path of destruction in their wake.
Other problems are more complex, like figuring out how to work effectively on a group project when nobody cares about the assignment but them.
It’s interesting for me to recognize that while those problems may seem large and overwhelming to them, they feel simple to me. This is only because I have had years of experience growing through those same problems and finding ways to adapt, systemize, and learn.
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20 Years of Experience: Patterns of Perseverance Drives Digital Transformation Succes
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to collaborate on problem-solving within digital transformation (DX) projects through a variety of different roles such as Business Analyst, Project Manager, and Organizational Change Management Consultant. I say, “opportunity,” but in the moment these problems do not always feel like opportunities. They often feel like impossible situations with no light at the end of the tunnel.
That being said, however, it hasn’t been all bad. After 20 years of helping companies with their DX projects, I’ve come to find and rely on patterns, best practices, and systems. Now I find great enjoyment in not only helping businesses survive their DX journey, but achieve great success in spite of the difficulties.
One challenge I’ve repeatedly faced is that businesses believe they know what problem they are trying to solve, but they are not always looking at the root cause. As a result, their solutions tend to miss the mark and the core issues linger long after the technology implementation has finished.
Another common challenge is that businesses get neck deep in the middle of their implementation journey, but they don’t know how to persevere to get to the other side. The longer they tread water, the more their team morale plummets.
It’s these types of problems that are very rewarding to be part of solving.
Transformation is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Take control of your project’s success today and schedule a free 30-minute consultation to find out how Victoria Fide can equip you for transformational success.
Beyond Operations: How Patience and Perseverance Built Trust and Efficiency
I remember working with a client once who believed they needed to implement a new system to solve their operational efficiency problems. As I began asking more probing questions on what business objectives they were trying to solve for, I realized there was something else that was going unsaid.
At first, I wasn’t quite sure how to get to the bottom of it, but over a series of follow-up conversations – including speaking with individuals one on one – it became apparent that some people didn’t think there was a problem that needed to be solved. Meanwhile, others were reluctant to openly discuss the real problems in a group setting, fearing it may put their colleagues in the hot seat.
This began a journey of trying to address the underlying organizational challenges. With some finesse, I was able to broach operational efficiency problems in a group setting to directly address the challenges while also building trust rather than spreading blame. It was a very complex challenge that took time, patience, and diligence, but the end result was worth it. The team came together, and the organization was not only able to achieve its project goals, but also made great strides in overcoming operational inefficiencies.
Transparency and Accountability Saved a Failing Project
I got involved with another project for a business that had stalled out in the middle of implementing their manufacturing software solution. When I came on board, the root issue of the stalled project wasn’t clear. I found it challenging to get to the bottom of it amidst all the finger pointing between the business and the system integrator, and just like before, there were things that I didn’t feel like either side was being completely up front about.
I began digging in, starting with reviewing the project methodology and tying all actions and deliverables back to it. Eventually it became clear that the issues were two-fold: first, the project manager lacked the ability to maintain effective scope management, and second, the company wasn’t being forthcoming about all their detailed business requirements.
Excavating these core issues took time and effort, but once we got to the bottom of it, we were able to develop a plan that held everyone accountable. With the root causes addressed and a new, effective plan in place, we were able to build out their design using detailed requirements and get a hold on their scope management to drive the project forward in a meaningful way. Once they understood that they couldn’t expect to accomplish everything out of the gate, we were able to focus on getting the implementation to a go-live first and then work to flesh out the less crucial requirements in later phases once the project had a successful foundation.
Victoria Fide’s Guarantee & The Power of Perseverance
This is what I want to pass on to my children: an eye for underlying causes, some grit for the journey, and an appreciation for hard-earned success. When such challenges invariably appear overwhelmingly complex and impossible, that’s where the reward is for me. As Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it is done.”
This is why I love being part of the team at Victoria Fide Consulting: perseverance is not only one of our company’s core values, but it is also a trait that is ingrained into our culture. My coworkers share my drive for solving problems that others deem impossible, and for persevering through the challenges to make it out the other side, success in hand.
We love being part of the solution and demonstrating to our clients that they are capable of success. We recognize that digital transformation is something that our clients do not undertake on a daily basis, yet most want to be effective and efficient. We’re here to show them that they can own the outcomes of their implementation without needing to rely on outside system integrators for their success or failure. With the right people, a proven process, and a whole lot of perseverance, their vision can become a reality.
If you’re curious about how Victoria Fide is equipping businesses like yours to take charge of their digital transformation success, check out our Client Success Guarantee. Reach out to me or any member of our consulting team to learn how we can help you Make Change Positive.
About the author
Rob Maeyaert is a Director of Project Portfolio and Change Management at Victoria Fide Consulting. For more than 20 years he has worked to help companies implement complex technology solutions and drive their strategic business objectives. For Rob, the most rewarding part of the client journey is building that trusted advisor relationship. Rob works hard to build that through honesty, integrity, and ensuring commitments are followed through.